Product Details

• Actors: Various Artists
• Format: Color, Compilation, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, German
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Plexifilm
• DVD Release Date: September 19, 2006
• Run Time: 64 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000GCFYOY
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,278 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Other Music > Dance & DJ

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 03/22/2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I guess you had to be there, June 26, 2008

By	John Albert Beckwith "kksuck2" (earf) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think High Tech Soul would be a great film for those who were a part of the nascent House/Techno scene in Detroit. There are lengthy interviews with all of the key players that give great background on their relationships with eachother and how money and fame complicated things. The city of Detroit plays a large role here as well which should inspire a bit of pride and nostalgia for those who lived there at the time.

It was hard for me to appreciate much of the film because I had little prior knowledge of who these DJ's were and the music. I was expecting to learn a great deal more about how the music was actually made. There were some allusions to how the process of creating beats early one was complex and time consuming, but we never got to see it getting done. Frankly, for a film about a music genre, there was a lot more talking than music. But, like I said, if I was more familiar with House and Techno coming in to the film I would've better appreciated the talky parts.

If they reissue this, they should really think about including some reading material with the DVD to help provide some context for those who don't know much about the subject.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well documented! Professional and definitely entertaining!!, September 29, 2006

By	M. Norton "M.N. -Chicago, IL" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

WOWOWOWOW! This movie shocked the heck outta' me. I expected a lame-attempt for filmmaking, and instead, was astounded--at just how good--it actually was. I really enjoyed it and hope to see another one from this rookie filmmaker. Did this come out to the theater? Wished it would have.....think it would have been awesome to see on the big screen, as well. Man, what an incredible film. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Definitely, not a resell. Even if you don't like techno music, you will still-love this film. Not only is it a documentary of Techno music; but it's also, a very tasteful documentary of Detroit and its' heritage. Great film!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Best documentary about Detroit techno/birth of techno, November 4, 2009

By	R. Barnes (somewhere in MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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While this documentary is imperfect, it is pretty good. I give it 5 stars because I have not seen any other electronic music documentary even come close to covering Detroit techno and giving it its due.

Do note that this doco is about the music created by Detroiters. It is not about Sven Vath, Warp Records, B12, or where techno went after its Detroit genesis.

Also note that as one reviewer stated, there are some people that are not interviewed (e.g. Mike Banks). However, you have to realize the people that made this A)had a limited budget and B) had to work with the schedules of these various globetrotting DJs and producers. Going into it I didn't expect them to be able to get all the important people and it turns out they did miss a few. No biggie. Or, for all I know, they asked Mike and he refused. They did get the trinity and they got Mills & Carl Craig (among many others). Frankly as long as you have those 5, you know you at least have a decent product.

Of interest was the fact that Ritchie Hawtin was included. Though the originators often diss him and go out of their way to say how he should not be included as part of the techno founders (or perhaps the techno community), the director of the doco did include him. While I personally both like a lot of Hawtin's stuff AND feel that his stuff isn't techno (his works seems to miss the whole soul/funk thing altogether) he was/is high profile and it is probably appropriate that he gets his time in front of the mike.

Two problems with the documentary:
1)for parts of the last half of the doco, the sound is not perfectly synced with the visual and it is noticeable
to the casual observer.
2) there should have been a bit more effort invested into explaining how techno proper (Detroit techno, the real thing, not Tresor Records, Basic Channel, or Kompakt)differ from house & trance and other flavors of electronic dance music. maybe the only people to watch this are aware of the distinction. On the off chance that a complete newbie watches this, however, I feel the director should have included 2 minutes to clarify the issue